DURANGO, Colo., Dec. 4, 2014 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Insight Research projects that the aggregate market for a key group of data services will grow two to three times the rate for basic transport services, representing more than a $160 billion opportunity for carriers over the next five years. With many voice and legacy data services declining, these high growth areas targeted to U.S. businesses include business broadband, IP VPNs, Ethernet, IP applications in the cloud, and hosting services.

In addition to the revenue forecasts for IP-VPNs and Ethernet market segments, unit forecasts are provided for various data port speeds, ranging from 1 Mbits per second to 10 Gbits per second.

“The groups of telecommunications services we’ve identified are fast becoming a growth engine for businesses of all types, and supplying these services to US businesses will give a shot in the arm to telecommunications suppliers,” says Robert Rosenberg, President of Insight Research.

“These data applications are strategic in the sense that they are driving exponential traffic growth onto corporate networks and supplying advanced services such as IP applications in the cloud. Ethernet access to these cloud-based applications is the future, and service providers need to make the strategic choice to focus their investments and resources on this growth segment,” Rosenberg concluded.

An excerpt of this market research report, table of contents, and ordering information are online at http://insight-corp.com/reports/wirelinedata14.asp .

The report is available immediately in electronic format (PDF) and can be ordered online. Visit our website at http://www.insight-corp.com or call 973-541-9600 for details.

DURANGO, Colo., Dec. 4, 2014 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Insight Research projects that the aggregate market for a key group of data services will grow two to three times the rate for basic transport services, representing more than a $160 billion opportunity for carriers over the next five years. With many voice and legacy data services declining, these high growth areas targeted to U.S. businesses include business broadband, IP VPNs, Ethernet, IP applications in the cloud, and hosting services.

In addition to the revenue forecasts for IP-VPNs and Ethernet market segments, unit forecasts are provided for various data port speeds, ranging from 1 Mbits per second to 10 Gbits per second.

“The groups of telecommunications services we’ve identified are fast becoming a growth engine for businesses of all types, and supplying these services to US businesses will give a shot in the arm to telecommunications suppliers,” says Robert Rosenberg, President of Insight Research.

“These data applications are strategic in the sense that they are driving exponential traffic growth onto corporate networks and supplying advanced services such as IP applications in the cloud. Ethernet access to these cloud-based applications is the future, and service providers need to make the strategic choice to focus their investments and resources on this growth segment,” Rosenberg concluded.

An excerpt of this market research report, table of contents, and ordering information are online at http://insight-corp.com/reports/wirelinedata14.asp .

The report is available immediately in electronic format (PDF) and can be ordered online. Visit our website at http://www.insight-corp.com or call 973-541-9600 for details.

The authors noted that the qualitative approach allows for a rich and in-depth exploration of the characteristics. The study findings, based on participant shared experiences, indicated feelings of well-being were enhanced by work interactions that were trusting, collaborative, and positive, as well as when participants felt valued and respected. The shared experiences also indicated that interactions detracted from well-being and health behaviors when interactions lacked the aforementioned, and also included lack of justice and empathy.

Based on the data, the enhancing and detracting relationships generated physical health symptoms, and influenced sleep and healthy eating patterns, socializing, exercise, personal relations, careers, and energy levels. This was regardless of the availability of wellness programs at the participating companies.

The authors noted that often workplace health promotion interventions target individual employees with little or no consideration for other determining factors that impact health and health behaviors. The interventions are also primarily focused on physical health and health risk factors such as body weight, fitness, and biometric measures.

Dr. Mastroianni stated that, “The effectiveness of these initiatives have recently been called into question and in fact, many in the field are emphasizing the need for worksite wellness programs to move beyond a health risk/health cost savings model toward a more holistic approach that focuses on well-being, engagement and productivity.”

Dimensions ( http://dimensions-ohs.com/ ) has advocated that thriving, energetic and engaged employees result from attention to individual and organizational well-being. According to Dr. Mastroianni, the bottom line is that the work climate matters and workplaces need to be physically, emotionally, and psychologically safe for engagement, well-being, and healthy behaviors to flourish.

The authors summarized that this study offers business leaders with evidence supporting interventions aimed at minimizing workplace incivility and increasing positive working environments achievable through partnerships with human resource development, wellness, safety, and occupational health professionals. Interventions designed to improve employee engagement and minimize financial and human costs of negative interactions will enhance individual and organizational well-being.

Dimensions in Occupational Health & Safety, Inc. (Dimensions) is a human dynamics consulting company founded in 1991. The company assists organizations to maximize well-being through employee safety, health, wellness, and social sustainability initiatives. Dimensions is dedicated to helping companies build physically, psychologically, and emotionally safe and healthy environments. This focus includes employee engagement and intentional leadership development. Since each organization is different, each approach is different; nonetheless, the focus on well-being is the same. And Dimensions’ approach is built on the premise that individual well-being and organizational well-being are inextricably connected.

LONGPORT, N.J., Feb. 20, 2014 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Facebook’s $16 Billion acquisition of startup WhatsApp is the latest example of how the mature voice market is being challenged by alternative communications mediums. While the $500 billion US telecommunications service market will continue to grow over the next few years, Insight Research forecasts that voice revenues – wireline and wireless – will decline at a 4.8 percent annual rate as consumers continue to “cut cords” and businesses migrate to VoIP platforms.

Billions of revenue dollars are at stake for incumbent voice service providers, as they seek to preserve customers through the transition to VoIP and 4G LTE wireless services.

Insight Research’s market analysis study, “US Wireless & Wireline Voice: Threats and Opportunities, 2013-2018″ provides a detailed look at the trends in voice communications, including the migration to VoIP and wireless services, the impact of substitute over the top (OTT) applications, machine to machine (M2M) applications, and the cannibalization of the $11 Billion text messaging business. As residential and business customers migrate to these new services and applications it is critical for incumbent service providers to retain these customers, who are the same users that are seeking the most advanced data and video services.

“Retaining customers will require innovations centered around service bundles and lower pricing, while maintaining profitably will be challenging for providers as customers flee to alternative communication mediums – such as social networking,” says Fran Caulfield, Research Director at Insight Research. “Service providers can no longer rely on mature technologies, such as text messaging, to offset declines in voice revenues, while the current handset subsidy model is not sustainable,” Caulfield concluded.

DURANGO, Colo., Jan. 31, 2014 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The global telecommunications industry continued to advance in 2013 and 2014, but at a slower rate than predicted a year ago, according to a new market analysis report from The Insight Research Corporation. In the U.S., home disconnections and lower business spending contributed to wireline revenue declines at AT&T, Verizon, and CenturyLink, while competition drove slower growth in wireless service revenues at Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T.

Continued softness in European economies will suppress wireline and wireless spending over the next two years, and even in Asia and Latin America, slower economic growth will reduce telecommunications spending from previous forecasts.

According to the new industry market study, telecommunications services revenue worldwide will grow from $2.1 trillion in 2014 to $2.4 trillion in 2019 at a combined average growth rate of 2.1 percent.

“The 2014 Telecommunications Industry Review: An Anthology of Market Facts and Forecasts” notes that wireless subscriber growth compounded with rising smartphone and tablet traffic will raise global wireless revenues by 17 percent from current levels. Wireline revenues will rise only four percent as voice calls decline and users switch to mobile solutions. Despite these modest gains, some sectors, such as Ethernet, cloud, and mobility solutions, will show double-digit annual revenue growth, and data traffic in these sectors will double every two years.

“Consumer demand for the latest wireless devices and higher bandwidth are driving telecommunications services growth, while the shift to cloud-based solutions is enriching the value of the network. A large percentage of business activity now depends on these mobile devices and network applications for everything from electronic commerce to navigation to customer service,” says Fran Caulfield, Research Director for Insight.

“Despite the modest rise in revenues, we see some important signals of growth, such as in the U.S., where another 100 million mobile subscriptions will be added by the end of the period,” Caulfield concluded.

In addition to regional and service forecasts, the report provides an assessment of the key drivers of this growth, including industry trends, network infrastructure and access technologies, future services, OSS/BSS and capex spending, and enterprise telecom markets. An excerpt, table of contents, and ordering information are available online at http://www.insight-corp.com/reports/review14.asp . This comprehensive 295-page report is available immediately for $1995.

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 29, 2014 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Planese Inc. released a summary of its Consumer Satisfaction Survey this week. Local Retailers are the best at meeting the needs of their customers – and grocery stores offer the most predictable consumer experience. The report was compiled from a survey of U.S. homeowners to determine their level of satisfaction with purchases of goods and services in 11 key industries. The survey objective was to benchmark the level of customer and product/service satisfaction in different industries and compare those to the home improvement and remodeling industry.

Customer satisfaction scores with providers ranged from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). The aggregate score was based on answers to a variety of consumer experience questions including quality, convenience, stress, ease of researching the purchase, etc.

Product/service satisfaction average scores were based on the percentage of respondents who reported that products and services met their expectations – neither exceeded them nor fell short. Retailers had majorities reporting that products and services exceeded expectations. Health care, cell phone, grocery and transportation industries all have 10 percent or less of homeowners who felt their services and products exceeded expectations. Home improvement and remodeling services had the lowest average scores, along with those provided by the government, for “meeting expectations.”

Dan Fritschen, homeowner consumer advocate and founder of www.remodelormove.com summed up the results: “Consumers are winning by getting better service and products as online and local retailers work to gain market share in an ever increasing competitive environment. Home improvement and home remodeling have fewer consumers reporting that the product and service met their expectations frequently because consumers are inexperienced with buying these goods and services. Therefore, they haven’t calibrated their expectations with the realities of the remodeling process and typical results.”

About the Survey:

The survey was conducted online during December 10-15, 2013. Sample data was collected from 1,000 homeowners with a modal age of 35 to 55 years, incomes of $75,000 to $100,000, married and with a Bachelor’s degree.

About Planese:

Planese Inc., the pioneer in collaborative home improvement, helps homeowners approach, plan, and carry out their home remodeling projects. Planese empowers consumers with the information they need to make informed decisions and get better results from their remodeling investments. More information is available at http://www.planese.com/ .

DURANGO, Colo., Nov. 25, 2013 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — U.S. Cable and Satellite service providers are losing three quarters of a million residential video subscribers each year, but investors are not panicking, as the losses are offset by growth in broadband and business services. According to a new market research study from The Insight Research Corporation, U.S. Cable MSOs are on track this year to reach $8.8 billion in annual revenues providing telecommunications services to small and medium-size businesses, despite competition from entrenched telco providers, who have owned this segment for the past thirty years.

Insight Research’s market analysis study, “Cable TV Operators, Telecom Services, and the Push into the Enterprise, 2013-2018″ provides an optimistic view for Cable Providers, who have been touting the Business Services market as a profitable alternative to their mature residential video business. Next to Wireless Services, Business Services is the second largest segment in the $500 billion U.S. telecommunications landscape. Cable Operators have demonstrated double-digit revenue growth in Business Services over the past few years, while their market share is approaching ten percent.

“Cable companies continue to demonstrate strength in leveraging their existing HFC networks and in providing new business services, such as mobile backhaul, WiFi access, and Ethernet services,” says Fran Caulfield, Research Director at Insight Research.

“Our research also shows that they continue to take market share from the entrenched Telco Providers, who have yet to become aggressive with pricing, investment, and quality in defending their market position,” Caulfield concluded.

“Cable TV Operators, Telecom Services, and the Push into the Enterprise, 2013-2018″ provides business revenue estimates for Cable and Telco operators, including voice, data, and video services offered to small, medium and large enterprise business segments. Detailed revenue estimates are provided for a range of business services, including Ethernet, private lines, voice services, web hosting, optical transport, and video.

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 9, 2013 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Planese, Inc. ( planese.com ) has announced the Northern California findings from its Fall 2013 US Remodeling Sentiment Report. This release will coincide with the three-day Home and Garden Show at the Santa Clara Convention Center that starts on Friday, Sept. 13. This forward-looking report, based on data from Planese’s survey of 2,000 homeowners nationwide, has documented trends in the home improvement industry since 2005.

Planese compared the most recent responses from Northern California homeowners with the responses given during the recession in 2010 and at the height of the remodeling boom in 2007. 39 percent of homeowners today report that they are excited about starting their remodeling project which is up significantly from the low of 28 percent in 2010, but still below the high of 46 percent in 2007.

“The wealth effect is taking hold in the Bay Area, particularly Silicon Valley, and that means great news for the entire home improvement industry as consumers start spending again,” said Dan Fritschen, CEO and co-founder of Planese, Inc. Since 2005, Fritschen has researched and published remodeling industry data about U.S. homeowners, their remodeling plans and intentions. “It’s the people who feel secure at the end of the recession who are the first to remodel.”

The survey also found that local homeowners are again less likely to do any of the work themselves. Today 54 percent plan to do none of the remodeling work themselves as compared to 48 percent in 2010 and 56 percent in 2007. In addition, more Santa Clara homeowners report they will use expensive materials when they remodel (23 percent today), halfway between the low reported of 17 percent in 2010, and the high of 29 percent in 2007.

Planese Survey Results:

Area homeowners are:
2007 2010 2013
Excited about Remodeling
46% 28% 39%
Planning to use a general contractor
82% 81% 88%
Planning to do some of the work themselves
44% 52% 46%
Planning to use expensive materials
29% 17% 23%

At the show, remodeling expert and homeowner advocate Fritschen will share his tips, ideas, and strategies with homeowners during two workshops: “101 Ways to Save Money When You Remodel” and “Should you Remodel or Move? Tips to Make the Right Decision.” Fritschen is the award-winning author of “Remodel or Move? Make the Right Decision.”

Planese will unveil at the Santa Clara show a new home remodeling app for iPhones that helps homeowners plan their remodeling projects from start to finish. Home and Garden Show attendees can download the app for free. The Planese app features an instant Remodeling Budget Calculator and an IdeaFile for searching, saving and sharing design ideas and photos.

About Planese:

Planese, Inc., the pioneer in collaborative home improvement, helps homeowners approach, plan, and carry out their home remodel by providing an easy-to-use solution. Powered by proprietary algorithms and enriched by community contribution, Planese provides a personalized, localized, interactive, intelligent, collaborative, and intuitive mobile app that delivers real-time information to homeowners. Planese creates a collaborative environment within the remodeling industry, empowering customers with the information they need to make informed decisions. More information: http://planese.com/ .

NEWS SOURCE: Planese, Inc. :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

MOUNTAIN LAKES, N.J., Jan. 28, 2013 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The global telecommunications industry was not immune to economic forces in 2012 that slowed growth from earlier predictions, according to a new market analysis report from The Insight Research Corporation. Spending for wireline services contracted in 2012, while spending on wireless services grew modestly. According to the new industry market study, telecommunications services revenue worldwide will grow from $2.2 trillion in 2012 to $2.7 trillion in 2018 at a combined average growth rate of 3.8 percent.

“The 2013 Telecommunications Industry Review: An Anthology of Market Facts and Forecasts” notes that wireless subscriber growth compounded with rising usage will raise wireless revenues by 31 percent from current levels, yet wireline revenues will remain flat until substantial economic recovery kicks in. Despite these modest gains, there are some sectors, such as Ethernet, Cloud, and Mobile Solutions, that will show double-digit annual percentage growth. In North America, wireless revenues will grow by 35 percent and wireline broadband revenues will grow by 19 percent over current levels.

“Telecommunications revenues are driven by several factors – economic conditions, household expansion, population, and disposable income – to name a few. Until these indicators strengthen we will continue to see modest improvements in growth areas, such as wireless data and IPTV, along with declines in mature services, such as voice and wireline data,” says Fran Caulfield, Research Director for Insight Research.

“Global telecommunications spending will hover around 3 percent of GDP; slightly lower in the US. Despite the weakness in these indicators, the fact remains that telecommunications is a key enabler of economic growth and service providers with the right strategy will prosper,” Caulfield concluded.

In addition to regional and service forecasts, the report provides an assessment of the key drivers of this growth, including industry trends, network infrastructure and access technologies, future services, OSS/BSS and capex spending, and enterprise telecom markets. An excerpt, table of contents, and ordering information are available online at http://www.insight-corp.com/reports/review13.asp .

NEW YORK, N.Y., Jan. 2, 2013 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — According to a new report from Thintri, Inc. (www.thintri.com), scarcity of wireless bandwidth is creating extraordinary opportunities in bandwidth leasing, particularly in wireless systems.

The global telecommunications industry faces an imminent crisis in growth of mobile data traffic, and its inability to meet growing demand with the industry’s present (and planned) infrastructure. Wireless carriers compete on the basis of coverage and performance, and both are at risk in the near future.

In response to exponential growth of data traffic over cellular networks, network operators are looking at new, alternative approaches to managing congestion, because the pace of building out new networks is insufficient to keep up with bandwidth demand. Already the incidence of dropped cellular calls has increased markedly.

Carriers are adjusting their business models, expanding coverage areas, deploying 4G and LTE networks, taking advantage of picocells and femtocells and most importantly, they are beginning to offload data traffic onto other networks, primarily WiFi. And yet, these measures will likely prove inadequate.

It is this dire need for carriers to find bandwidth quickly that has presented some unique business opportunities which are analyzed in the Thintri report.

While data traffic migrates from basic-feature handsets and home gateways to a new generation of smartphones, tablets and laptops/netbooks, emergent market drivers are also making themselves felt. Education, healthcare and business, to name just a few, are rapidly moving toward greater use of mobile data.

For example, one of the greatest disruptive influences emerging in mobile networks is machine-to-machine (M2M) data traffic, namely, the communications between electronic devices without human intervention. This “Internet of things” will present an enormous source of wireless bandwidth demand from widely proliferating wireless sensors, electronics connected to power, energy, transportation and communication infrastructures, healthcare devices, manufacturing systems, household appliances and other types of hardware.

A problem the world over is bringing broadband access to those who have been left behind because of geography, limited resources and lack of proximity to digital infrastructure. Wired solutions do not generally reach locations of low population density, which has left many rural populations underserved or unserved. The unserved/underserved market in the U.S. is 3 to 6 percent of the population, almost all in rural locations. In many nations, the percentage is much higher.

The focus in reaching such customers is on wireless technology which will serve to extend existing fiber or other fixed wired networks outside the ranges where they can be profitably deployed.

The use of wireless links to extend fiber networks present a significant opportunity even in more heavily populated areas, where fiber networks are established but nevertheless remain inaccessible for many.

The way out of the current crisis lies on a path similar to that taken by optical fiber network providers. An entire industry has sprung up around businesses setting up links and networks offering dark fiber and wavelength services, often for the sole purpose of selling or leasing this capacity. End users then lease or purchase optical fiber links already in place, or merely lease specific wavelengths on existing “lit” fibers or simply portions of a fiber cable’s capacity.

Emerging technologies such as TV white space and millimeter waves will be key components in bringing a similar model to bear on wireless networks, where wireless links can be set up for the purposes of offloading wireless data traffic from 4G /LTE networks, or simply to lease capacity, or entire links, to anyone who needs it. Both major carriers and smaller firms, similar to those managing dark fiber and wavelength services, are well situated to offer solutions specifically designed to address the burgeoning wireless bandwidth demand.

Bandwidth leasing in the coming bandwidth crisis presents an unusual opportunity for industry participants and other investors. “Opportunities in Broadband Leasing” presents an analysis of those opportunities, provides a survey of the imminent bandwidth crunch, its driving forces, the response of the telecommunications industry, a detailed discussion of potential alternatives and their markets, and demand for wireless broadband leasing over the decade. Forecasts are provided out to 2020.

About Thintri, Inc.:
Founded in 1996, Thintri, Inc. (www.thintri.com), is a full-service consulting firm, based in New York and directed by J. Scott Moore, Ph.D.

NEWS SOURCE: Thintri, Inc. :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press(R) Newswire, a service of Neotrope(R). View all current news at the Send2Press for Journalists Portal: http://Send2PressNewswire.com/ .

MOUNTAIN LAKES, N.J., Dec. 12, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Capital expenditures (capex) by telecommunications service providers globally is expected to increase at a compounded rate of 1.5 percent, from $207 billion in 2012 to $223.3 billion in 2017, says a new market analysis report from The INSIGHT Research Corporation.

According to the new market study, capex in the various global regions will be very uneven, with North America, Europe and the Latin American-Caribbean regions showing little or no growth and only Asia-Pacific and Africa continuing to make investments in telecommunications hardware and software to keep up with burgeoning customer demand for new services.

“Telecommunications and Capital Investments: Impacts of the Financial Crisis on Worldwide Telecommunications, 2012-2017″ notes that capex spending among fixed-line operators continues to decline, and the only growth in capex spending comes from the mobile operators in developing countries that continue increase their capital outlays to meet the pent up demand for service. And while demand for telecommunications services may be income inelastic and industry revenue may actually grow over the forecast period, services in every global region will nonetheless come under heavy pricing pressure as operators fight over the cost-conscious customers quite willing to delay new device purchases.

“Customers in every region are pinching pennies and the demand for advanced applications is uncertain. The confluence of these trends means a further erosion of operator margins, which in turn will affect investments into infrastructures and new technologies since funding is now more difficult to obtain,” says INSIGHT Research President Robert Rosenberg. “The difficulty in finding funding now faced by many operators will certainly slow down, if not derail, the rolling out of investments in NGNs, WiMAX, LTE, or converged services,” Rosenberg concluded.

Capital spending forecasts are provided for the U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Japan, China, and India. On a per country basis, capex spending is provided for fixed lines, mobile, and broadband. Forecasts are also provided for capex allocation by equipment; plant; software licenses; and the category “other.”

An excerpt, table of contents, and ordering information for this market research report is available online at http://www.insight-corp.com/reports/invest12.asp . This 88-page report is available in Electronic (PDF) format and can be ordered online. Visit our Website, or call 973-541-9600 for details.

NEWS SOURCE: INSIGHT Research Corporation :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press(R) Newswire, a service of Neotrope(R). View all current news at the Send2Press for Journalists Portal: http://Send2PressNewswire.com/ .

NEW YORK, N.Y., Dec. 11, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — More companies will revisit their tradition of holding holiday parties this year, according to the 24th annual survey of corporate America’s holiday party plans conducted by Battalia Winston, a leading global executive search firm.

An astounding 91 percent of the companies polled will have parties this year, up from 74 percent in 2011, 79 percent in 2010, 81 percent in 2009, 81 percent in 2008 and 85 percent in 2007.

Holiday parties were held by 95 percent of companies in 1988, the first year of the survey, and an all-time high of 97 percent was recorded in 1996 and in 1997, all years when the economy was robust.

“From the beginning the study has been a reliable barometer of both prevailing economic conditions and corporate confidence,” said Dale Winston, Battalia Winston’s Chairwoman and CEO.

“Despite the challenging economic environment, it seems that companies are moving back to a state of normality,” said Winston. “Parties are still the last vestige of company sociability.”

2012 Survey Findings:

* Who’s partying? We surveyed 105 companies and saw a significant increase compared to last year’s results (in 2011, 74 percent of companies hosted parties). This year, 96 out of 105 (91 percent of companies polled) will have some kind of holiday party.

* Why have parties? Nearly half (42 percent) are doing so to build employee morale, while about a third (33 percent) are holding a party to celebrate 2012 as a good year and 7 percent to show employees and clients that they are optimistic about next year. 18 percent of companies selected “other,” and the breakdown for “other” is as follows: 10 percent are hosting parties because of tradition, 4 percent are hosting parties simply because they like to, 3 percent say it’s “the right thing to do,” and 1 percent are doing so to honor retirees.

* Why no party? Of the 9 percent of companies not holding a holiday party this year, 1/3 (33.33 percent) said they had employees in several different locations, 1/3 (33.33 percent) said their employees were simply not that interested in attending corporate parties & 1/3 (33.33 percent) will give their employees something else in lieu of a party (2 days off, destination trip, etc.)

* Who will be invited? More than half (64 percent – 1 percent will include retirees) of the parties will be for employees only, while 29 percent will be held for both employees and their families (1 percent will allow the employees’ spouses only) and 7 percent will host employees, their families and friends of the firm.

* The budget: Conservatism still rules; 100 percent of companies said that their party will be the same as previous years – as opposed to more modest or more lavish.

* When & where? Of the companies holding parties, slightly more than 1/3 (34 percent) will be held in the evening, 43 percent will be at lunch and 14 percent selected “other.” Some companies indicated what their “other” entails: a 4-day trip, brunch, weekend trip to Vegas, company children’s party, afternoon party and the choice of a $100 gift card or one day off. Nearly half (40 percent) of the celebrations will be held in a restaurant, 29 percent at the office, 17 percent at a hotel and 14 percent selected other (20 percent will be a surprise, 20 percent will be in a “remote break area,” 40 percent will be in an external location/functional space and 20 percent will be at a country club.

* Drink up — if you can: Drinks will be served at most (79 percent) parties, but nearly one-in-four (21 percent) will be alcohol-free.

* Holiday charity efforts: While about half (51 percent) of the companies are donating money or goods (up from 39 percent last year, 47 percent in 2010, 66 percent in 2009, and 74 percent in 2008), employees at 16 percent of the firms will be doing volunteer work. 28 percent of the companies aren’t involved in holiday charitable activities. Some of these activities include Toys for Tots, Blood Drives, etc. 5 percent indicated other charity efforts will be made, such as sending holiday cards and matching funds.

* Employee morale: A majority (69 percent) of companies are taking steps to boost employee morale for the year to come (e.g. flexible work schedules, performance incentives, pay raises, team building/training, etc.), leaving only 12 percent of companies that have no such plans. 19 percent were unsure. Last year, almost half (48 percent) of the respondents planned morale boosting actions, which is a 43.75 percent increase.

The survey also asked, “How do you expect your company to perform in 2013?” A majority of companies (66 percent) report they’re on track to grow and hire; 24 percent anticipate staying the same and 10 percent are uncertain. None of the surveyed companies are expecting or planning to consolidate. Last year (2011), only 48 percent of companies were on track to grow and hire.

Has optimism replaced much of last year’s caution? “We believe this year’s increase in holiday parties reflects stabilization as opposed to a positive outlook for 2013,” said Winston. “Boosting employee morale is also a driver in the increase of holiday parties.”

The 2012 Battalia Winston nationwide survey was conducted among a cross-section of 105 companies.

About Battalia Winston:Battalia Winston has been successfully meeting client needs in executive recruitment for almost 50 years and is currently ranked as one of the nation’s 12 largest retained executive search firms, as well as one of the world’s largest woman-owned search firms. Headquartered in New York City, the firm also has offices in New Jersey, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Battalia Winston is an agile and uniquely flexible firm and their culture is focused on providing highly personalized, responsive client service.

NEWS SOURCE: Battalia Winston :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press(R) Newswire, a service of Neotrope(R). View all current news at the Send2Press for Journalists Portal: http://Send2PressNewswire.com/ .

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Nov. 5, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board conducted a study to identify the top demand sectors for employment in San Bernardino County. The results showed that manufacturing, health care, transportation and logistics, energy and utilities, and construction are the top five industries that will be seeking a skilled workforce in San Bernardino County to fill available jobs.

The Workforce Investment Board commissioned a study by the ERISS Corporation so it can focus its limited resources in the county’s demand industries, working with the county’s competitive advantages to create a trained and skilled workforce.

The Workforce Investment Board convenes stakeholders from businesses, community based organizations, government and education to develop a highly skilled workforce in San Bernardino County. It works closely with the business community to fund training programs that meet the needs of local companies and the types of skills they seek. It also helps individuals build sustainable careers in living wage jobs.

“Our Workforce Investment Board has always taken a leadership role in identifying and bringing community stakeholders together to help formulate the best long-term strategy for the use of federal dollars in our local economy,” said Josie Gonzales, Chair, Board of Supervisors. “As we enter a growth period after the recession, we will orient our support to train job seekers for the job opportunities available with local businesses.”

The research study was conducted on behalf of the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board during the first quarter of 2012. Its goal was to make recommendations for industry clusters with growth potential for the local area. The project included dedicated industry surveys, secondary quantitative research, and significant qualitative research. The analysis resulted in a series of recommendations for industry clusters and policy opportunities for the county.

“As the lead organization in the county convening stakeholders to solve workforce issues in San Bernardino County, the Workforce Investment Board will strategically deploy its resources to connect businesses with the workforce they need,” said Sandy Harmsen, executive director of the Workforce Investment Board. “The timing of these results could not be better, as it allows us to lead the county in aligning with the state’s workforce strategy so we can work together to create a better employment picture in San Bernardino County and in California.”

As a policymaking body that administers federal funding locally, the Workforce Investment Board reviews various research studies on an ongoing basis to ensure that it is serving the key business sectors in San Bernardino County that are driving employment.

Employers and job seekers who are interested in the Workforce Investment Board programs may call: (800) 451-JOBS or visit http://www.csb-win.org/ .

About the Workforce Investment Board of San Bernardino County:
The Workforce Investment Board of San Bernardino County is comprised of private business representatives and public partners appointed by the County of San Bernardino Board of Supervisors. The Board strives to strengthen the skills of the county’s workforce through partnerships with business, education and community-based organizations. The County of San Bernardino Board of Supervisors is committed to providing county resources, which generate jobs and investment.

The Workforce Investment Board, through the County of San Bernardino’s Economic Development Agency and Workforce Development Department, operates the County of San Bernardino’s Employment Resource Centers and Business Resource Centers. The ERCs provide individuals with job training, placement and the tools to strengthen their skills to achieve a higher quality of life. The BRCs support and provide services to the county’s businesses including employee recruitment.

NEWS SOURCE: San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press(R) Newswire, a service of Neotrope(R). View all current news at the Send2Press for Journalists Portal: http://Send2PressNewswire.com/ .

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 24, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — For the first time since 2008, kitchens have become the number one remodeling project for homeowners, according to the “Fall 2012 U.S. Remodeling Sentiment Report” from RemodelorMove.com. But before you join the rush to remodel your kitchen, you should carefully consider whether the project is a good idea for your finances and family.

To help you make the right decisions there are new and free tools available online to help you decide if remodeling is a good decision; estimate how much it will cost to remodel your kitchen, find, save, categorize, and share kitchen design ideas and pictures, and get answers to your remodeling questions.

Here is some sage advice to help you get started the smart way on your kitchen remodel:

First, decide if remodeling is right for you. You should consider a multitude of variables, such as: Can we comfortably pay for this remodel? Is my family emotionally ready to deal with the disruption? Would it be easier or less expensive to move instead? Find out instantly with the Should I Remodel? decision-making calculator.

Next, get a cost estimate. Remodel cost calculators are available to give you an instant estimate. It’s important to get an estimate early in the planning phase to give you plenty of time to arrange your finances, compare prices on everything from appliances to countertops to cabinetry, and make sure your kitchen remodel is as budget friendly as possible.

Make organization a top priority. You’ll be dealing with a thousand tiny details, ranging from paint colors to cabinets to floor plans. Letting any one of these details fall through the cracks could mean extra expense and delays. Use the RemodelOrMove.comkitchen design photo search tool to organize your design photos and ideas.

Bring in the experts for answers. You may find that talking with a real estate agent, interior designer, architect, mortgage banker, or remodeling contractor can help you understand the true costs and benefits of remodeling.

If you approach your kitchen remodel with an eye for cost-effectiveness and organization, not only will you have a gorgeous new space to cook in, you can even increase the value of your home. Take advantage of free tools for planning a remodel at: http://www.remodelormove.com/.

NEWS SOURCE: ABCD Publishing LLC :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press(R) Newswire, a service of Neotrope(R). View all current news at the Send2Press for Journalists Portal: http://Send2PressNewswire.com/ .

MIAMI, Fla., Oct. 8, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Analysts and real estate market experts at BankForeclosuresSale.com have just released a revealing new infographic providing home buyers and investors with valuable insight into the causes and effects of the recent housing crisis.

Drawing on information gathered from the U.S. Census and public records, the infographic details statistical trends in home ownership, household income, home values, and interest rates over the past decade to paint a remarkable picture of the evolution of the market. This information provides home buyers and real estate investors with important information on the events that led up to the housing crisis, as well as a positive outlook for the future.

For example, we can clearly see that an extreme jump in home ownership leading up to 2004 corresponded with rising household income. The infographic also demonstrates that the average price of a home rose sharply in the early part of the decade, only to fall drastically after the housing bubble burst around 2007.

Perhaps most interesting for buyers is the fact that mortgage rates are currently at their lowest point since 2003, and average home prices are the lowest they’ve been since the housing crisis first began. This combination of trends means home buyers can currently find the lowest prices available on homes in the past 5 years, and that financing the purchase with a mortgage is cheaper than it’s been in a decade, meaning that it’s a great time to buy.

“The numbers show not only show that real estate is still a great investment, but that buyers can take advantage of some historic lows in the market,” said Simon Campbell, a Senior Business Analyst with BankForeclosuresSale.com. “Even though home values have fallen, they’re still worth more than they were 10 years ago, and with interest rates lower now than at any point in the past decade, it’s a big opportunity.”

Campbell also pointed out that while home ownership may still be low; the stage is set for a turnaround. “With household income steadying as the economy improves,” said Campbell, “all signs point to increasing demand for housing.”

About Bank Foreclosures Sale:BankForeclosuresSale.com is a leading provider of foreclosure listings, news, and information concerning the foreclosure real estate market. In business since 1998 and based in Miami, BankForeclosuresSale.com is a leading source for up-to-date real estate listings currently available nationwide.

NEWS SOURCE: Bank Foreclosures Sale :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press(R) Newswire, a service of Neotrope(R). View all current news at the Send2Press for Journalists Portal: http://Send2PressNewswire.com/ .

MOUNTAIN LAKES, N.J., Sept. 27, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — While the US Cable TV Multiple System Operators (MSOs) in 2012 may generate over $7 billion in annual revenues providing telecommunications services to businesses, they will be chasing a declining business telecom services segment and face fierce competition from entrenched telco providers with very deep pockets ready to staunchly defend their existing base, according to a new market research study from The Insight Research Corporation. Cable Operators will gain some market share, but they will remain small players in a big industry with low margins and little cash flow.

Insight Research’s market analysis study, “Cable TV Enterprise Services, 2012-2017″ provides a sobering view for Cable Providers, who have been touting the Business Services market as a profitable respite from their mature residential video business. Next to Wireless Services, Business Services is the second largest segment in the US telecommunications landscape. While Cable Operators have had some recent success in growing their single-digit share of this market, they will face major obstacles trying to take significant share in this modest growth segment.

“While their legacy in providing services to residential segments may give them confidence they can grow profitably in this adjacent segment, the Cable Operator’s challenges will be steep and growth is dependent upon taking market share from entrenched players,” says Fran Caulfield, Research Director at Insight Research. “Our study concludes that despite these obstacles, Cable Operators will forge ahead and the entrenched Telco Providers will likely respond with investments, price, and improved performance to combat this threat. It should be an interesting few years,” Caulfield concluded.

An excerpt of this enterprise telecommunications services market research report, table of contents, and ordering information are online http://www.insight-corp.com/reports/enterprise12.a… . This 137-page report is available immediately in Electronic (PDF) format and can be ordered online for $4,695. Visit our website (www.insight-corp.com), or call 973-541-9600 for details.

NEWS SOURCE: Insight Research Corporation :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press(R) Newswire, a service of Neotrope(R). View all current news at the Send2Press for Journalists Portal: http://Send2PressNewswire.com/ .

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 25, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The RemodelOrMove.com Fall 2012 Remodeling Sentiment Report documents a continuing increase in the scale of planned remodels for homeowners.Multi-year highs in the stock market, home prices that are inching up, record low interest rates and pent-up demand for home maintenance are fueling this increase.

Homeowners’ growing preference for using luxury home products is a noteworthy trend.This trend appears to indicate that the building and remodeling industries will recover top down, with the higher-end products increasing in use disproportionately with demand for average and economy products. This trend will probably continue until the economic turnaround becomes stronger and more widespread

Details from the Report that indicate that “luxury” is coming back to home remodeling:

* Homeowners are describing the materials they will use in their remodel as “expensive” at the highest rate since 2008.

* The scope and scale of remodels is the largest since 2007, with an average remodeling cost estimated to be $100,000. Homeowners are stating they will, on average, add or remodel more than three rooms.

* 35 percent, the highest number since 2008, of respondents are reporting that the economy is not affecting their plans to remodel.

* 73 percent, the highest percentage since the Report started in 2006, are planning to hire a general contractor. As the scale of the projects increase, the use of a general contractor typically increases as well.

Items of interest:

* Kitchen remodeling takes over as the #1 favorite remodeling project for the first time since 2008.This shift is another indicator that “luxury” is returning to what was a “practical” remodeling market.Many homeowners view a kitchen remodel as a luxury while a bathroom addition or remodel can be sometimes justified as a necessity.

* The wealth effect is helping to fuel this return to luxury as average home equity reported by homeowners taking this survey was $123,000 – the highest since 2009.

* The decision to remodel or move is increasingly difficult as the difference between the average cost of remodeling, $100,000, and the average price difference between their current home and their dream home, $113,000, become almost the same.The near-equal costs of remodeling their current home and the cost to sell what they have and move to a new home makes the remodel or move decision much more difficult.

NEWS SOURCE: ABCD Publishing LLC :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press(R) Newswire, a service of Neotrope(R). View all current news at the Send2Press for Journalists Portal: http://Send2PressNewswire.com/ .

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 12, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — A recent study of 18-24 year old American high school graduates commissioned by education nonprofit World Savvy (www.worldsavvy.org), with support from the International Baccalaureate Organization (www.ibo.org), shows a desire among young people to learn more about global topics, but a conspicuous lack of instruction within American schools to satisfy these needs. The resulting lack of global competency skills can make it difficult for young Americans to thrive in an increasingly global economy.

“There is no question that the shifting demands of an interconnected, interdependent global economy and society requires that graduates are globally competent; knowledgeable about the world, capable of thinking creatively and critically about problems, and adept at working collaboratively with a diverse group of people to find solutions,” remarked Dana Mortenson, Co-Founder and Executive Director of World Savvy, the nonprofit organization responsible for commissioning the study. “It is imperative that we create learning environments that prioritize and cultivate this kind of global experience, if we want students to truly be college and career ready. Through exposure to a range of educational programs which develop global competency, World Savvy students have this kind of preparation.”

Young Americans see the value in learning globally; there is a high demand among young adults for global competency education.
* 80 percent of those surveyed believe that jobs are becoming increasingly international in nature.
* 60 percent say they would be better employees if they had a better understanding of different world cultures.
* 86 percent agree that a solid foundation in world history and events is crucial in coming up with solutions to the problems in the world today.
* Nearly 90 percent believe that developments abroad can have significant implications on the U.S. economy.
* 79 percent say that it is important in today’s world to be comfortable interacting with people of different cultural backgrounds (on par with the perceived importance of writing skills [78 percent], technical skills [76 percent] and math skills [77 percent]).

Global issues are not regularly discussed in school:
* While the vast majority respondents see the importance of global literacy, 48 percent actively disagree with the statement that their 6th-12th grade education provided instruction that helps them to understand the roots of global issues that affect their lives today.
* 63 percent indicated that they did not discuss world events in their high school classes.
* Only a little over half (54 percent) think that their high school teachers incorporated a global perspective into their curriculums.

As a result, the majority of young Americans cannot accurately answer questions related to important contemporary global issues. For example:
* 78 percent of students do not know that Mandarin is the most commonly spoken language in the world; 45 percent thought it was English.
* 77 percent of respondents cannot correctly identify Canada as the U.S.’s largest trading partner.
* 72 percent of students surveyed cannot identify which region Afghanistan is located in.
* Fewer than half know that Libya is located in northern Africa.

Data suggests a relationship between global event discussions in high school and future interests/behaviors. Those who discussed world events in their high school classes were more likely to report that they:
* Regularly or often discuss news and world events with other people (+21 percent).
* Actively seek out news and information about world events (+17).
* Vote in local and national elections (+14 percent).
* Received a very well rounded and useful high school education (+13).
* Diversity is an asset (+9 percent).
* Volunteered to support a cause they believe in (+8 percent).
* Are curious about the world around them (+8 percent).
* Believe developments abroad can have significant implications on the U.S. economy (+8 percent).
* Believe that what happens in the US affects people around the globe (+7 percent).

This suggests that exposure to global competency education in high school helps to inspire young adults to stay abreast of world events, be active in their communities, and understand the interconnectivity of global economies.

The Global Competency Poll was conducted by Colligan Market Research between June 29th and July 6th via an online survey among 502 respondents. In order to qualify for this study, respondents had to indicate that they were between the ages of 18-24 year olds, had attended high school in the United States, and had graduated from high school or obtained a GED. The survey included quotas to ensure that the demographics of this audience (gender, age distribution, college enrollment, etc.) matched that of U.S. population of 18-24 year olds.

About World Savvy:
World Savvy educates and engages youth in community and world affairs, to learn, work and thrive as responsible global citizens in the 21st century. World Savvy has offices in New York, San Francisco and Minneapolis and has reached more than 250,000 students and 2,000 teachers since founding. To learn more, visit http://www.worldsavvy.org/ .

About the International Baccalaureate Organization:
Founded in 1968 the International Baccalaureate (IB) is a not-for profit foundation, which offers four high quality and challenging educational programmes for a worldwide community of schools. For over 40 years, IB programmes have gained a reputation for their rigour and high academic standards, for preparing students for life in a globalised 21st century, and for helping to develop citizens who will create a better, more peaceful world. Currently there are more than 1 million IB students at nearly 3,500 schools in over 145 countries. To learn more, please visit http://www.ibo.org/ . Contact: Robin Khan, Communications and Marketing Manager; Email: robin.khan@ibo.org Direct: 301-202-3172.

NEWS SOURCE: World Savvy :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press(R) Newswire, a service of Neotrope(R). View all current news at the Send2Press for Journalists Portal: http://Send2PressNewswire.com/ .

“We feel that even though some of these tips are common sense, it’s always good to have a reminder,” Cirtcele Electric’s owner David M. Specht said. “We’re involved in electricity every day, so we are aware of the danger of it at all times, and that prompted us to put together the free report.”

Cirtcele Electric is a part of a legacy of electricians, given that his family has been in the business since 1946.

In addition to money-saving tips, the report shares information on performing periodic electrical safety inspections and the information is relevant to both home and business owners.

Specht is committed to serving the community he lives and works in sees this as another way to give back to the community. He stated, “It’s an honor to serve the community by sharing our expertise. I believe that if we show the community we are here to serve, they will remember us when they need a local electrician.”

For more information contact David M. Specht at 480-545-9600.

About Cirtcele Electric:
Cirtcele Electric is a full service residential and commercial electrical contractor, headquartered in Mesa, Arizona. They have been serving the needs of homeowners and business owners in the Phoenix area since 1989. Cirtcele is licensed, bonded, and insured, and an insurance-company-approved electrical contractor; as well as an SRP Energy Efficiency Alliance Contractor. More information: http://www.cirtceleelectric.com/ .

NEWS SOURCE: Cirtcele Electric :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press(R) Newswire, a service of Neotrope(R). View all current news at the Send2Press for Journalists Portal: http://Send2PressNewswire.com/ .

MOUNTAIN LAKES, N.J., July 16, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — U.S. enterprises and consumers are expected to spend more than $47 billion over the next five years on Ethernet services provided by carriers, according to a new market research study from The INSIGHT Research Corporation. With metro-area and wide-area Ethernet services readily available from virtually all major data service providers, industry revenue is expected to grow from nearly $5 billion in 2012 to reach just over $11 billion by 2017.

However, year over year spending growth is expected to gradually stall and by 2017 the annual revenue growth rate will be half of what it is today.

According to INSIGHT Research’s market analysis study, “Carriers and Ethernet Services: Public Ethernet in Metro & Wide Area Networks, 2012-2017,” Ethernet’s central driver continues to be its ability to meet seemingly endlessly growing bandwidth demands at lower cost and with greater flexibility than competing services. A major growth driver in years past had been the large-scale migration of wireless backhaul cell sites from TDM to Ethernet, and though still a contributory growth factor, backhaul growth will start to moderate as LTE deployments are completed.

“Wireless backhaul had been a major factor in this fast-growing telecommunications services sector, but with much of the conversion of TDM to Ethernet completed, we are forecasting that spending on Ethernet will moderate,” says Robert Rosenberg, president of INSIGHT Research. “Over the five year forecast period we project a compounded annual revenue growth rate of 17 percent, with growth slowing by 2016 to be more in the range of 12 to 15 percent,” Rosenberg concluded.

This 166-page report is available immediately for $4,695 in an electronic format (PDF) and can be ordered online. Learn more at: http://www.insight-corp.com/ .

News Source: INSIGHT Research Corporation :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at the Send2Press for Journalists Portal: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

There is no doubt that the U.S. real estate market has taken a huge hit and many homeowners are feeling the pain of loosing their homes. Fact is, with home prices decimated, in many areas it will take seventeen years or more to return to purchase price even at the unlikely event of a 2 percent increase each and every year. See: http://www.realestatestatistics.com/underwater.php .

However, there is positive market activity as well, and all too often it does not get heard. Furthermore, Mr. d’Ancona states that the problem with glass-is-half-empty viewpoints is that they have an undue psychological impact on markets that is not borne out by all the facts. “We know, because it’s our business to know, that there are hundreds of cities and thousands of neighborhoods in the United States right now where the market is actually very healthy!”

In order to focus a spotlight on the overall effect of this phenomenon, d’Ancona published a REality price index directed at the real estate community: http://www.restats.com/ .

This month’s REality Index shows that since January 2012, homes in the U.S. are selling well-faster and at higher prices. d’Ancona created his Index on the premise that the real estate axiom “Location, Location, Location” applies to statistics as well.

Most real estate statistical reports pinpoint the large cities and omit the many smaller towns and villages that comprise a huge proportion of sales. The REality Index is based on a vast array of over 7,000 cities and towns and provides a much more accurate and therefore more promising analysis of the overall real estate market.

“I believe people will be encouraged to see that resale homes are doing better and the housing a crisis is likely beginning to ease. To paraphrase Winston Churchill “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

d’Ancona, who has been providing market intelligence to brokers and agents throughout the United States and Canada for more than 25 years, will update the REality Index once a month to focus on the many bright spots in the real estate industry. “As a result real estate professionals will now be able to guide their clients beyond the gloom and doom by providing the facts which are much more encouraging,” says d’Ancona.

MOUNTAIN LAKES, N.J., June 14, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The hospitals, physicians, clinics, and insurance providers that make up U.S. healthcare system will be spending over $69 billion on telecommunications services over the next six years, says a new market research study released by the INSIGHT Research Corporation.

According to the market analysis study, spending by the U.S. healthcare industry on telecommunications services will grow at a compounded rate of 9.7 percent over the forecast period, increasing from $9.1 billion in 2012 to $14.4 billion in 2017 as the number of healthcare locations expands by 16 percent and the healthcare employment rate increases 2.5 times faster than the total national employment rate.

According to the report, “Telecommunications, IT, and Healthcare: Wireless Networks, Digital Healthcare and the Transformation of US Healthcare, 2012-2017,” forces external to the healthcare industry, including Federal Government policies, an aging population, and healthcare worker shortages are encouraging the industry to find alternative approaches to current treatment practices.

Much of the high costs inherent in the current system are related to the proximity of patient and provider, as well as to the archaic administrative systems used to manage records and exchange information. Telecommunications can bridge these proximity and system gaps.

“Healthcare providers are avid consumers of telecommunications services and new technology. The combination of increased demand for wireless and broadband access, massive data storage demands, and the conversion to electronic health records (EHRs) and procedures is straining existing healthcare networks,” says Fran Caulfield, INSIGHT Research Director.

“Our research measures key operational factors, such as population trends, patient monitoring, and cloud-based storage requirements, and then we quantify the demands for telecommunications services and equipment that will be needed to satisfy these demands No surprises; the research points to strong demand,” concluded Caulfield.

“Telecommunications, IT, and Healthcare: Wireless Networks, Digital Healthcare and the Transformation of US Healthcare, 2012-2017″ provides a forecast of U.S. healthcare telecom service spending by wireline and wireless access and by healthcare provider (Hospital, Physician, Clinics, and other practitioners).

COSTA MESA, Calif., May 30, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — LendingQB, a provider of seamless mortgage lending technology, announced that it published the availability of a free white paper designed for lenders that are considering replacing their loan origination system (LOS). The paper addresses the challenges lenders face when evaluating mortgage technologies and outlines a strategy to assess their existing technology weaknesses, identifying areas for improvement.

Entitled “The Five Steps to Making Better Technology Decisions,” the white paper recommends conducting an Enterprise Process Assessment (EPA) of lending operations and workflows. According to the paper, all too often lenders buy technology predominantly based on features, failing to perform a critical deep dive analysis of their workflow to effectively model and measure process enhancements using standards and best practices.

The white paper stresses that before buying technology, lenders must establish an objective, well-defined, comprehensive process in order to overcome the many challenges associated with complex technology evaluations. Executing an EPA provides a clear understanding of and roadmap for how to select technology that reduces cost per loan, improves profitability, maximizes employee productivity and decrease the number of manual touch points throughout the workflow.

Key points in the white paper:
* Overview of the mortgage technology challenges lenders face in today’s market;
* Determining the technology lenders really need, avoiding what they don’t need;
* How to arrive at an evaluation readiness checklist;
* Identifying vaporware and avoiding feature buying traps;
* Using metrics to achieve a high ROI;
* The importance of a seamless workflow;
* How to reduce cost per loan and increase profitability.

Interested parties can download the free white paper from LendingQB’s website at www.lendingqb.com.

About LendingQB:
LendingQB is a Costa Mesa, California-based company that specializes in loan origination technology solutions and services for the mortgage industry. The LendingQB LOS is a 100 percent Web-based, true end-to-end enterprise-class loan origination platform. The solution is designed to meet the needs of all types of mortgage lenders-large or small, wholesale or retail, correspondent or Internet-based-with specialized tools that are targeted, customizable and flexible. LendingQB uses a consultative technology assessment approach before engaging with new clients, and places a strong emphasis on the utilization of data analytics to assist lenders in leveraging business intelligence, resulting in optimized organizational performance and lowered cost per loan. For more information about LendingQB, please call 888-285-3912 or visit www.lendingqb.com.

KIRKLAND, Wash., May 23, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Today LTC Financial Partners, LLC (LTCFP) announces an agreement with EraNova Institute to distribute a special report on the future of long-term care insurance (LTCI) as an employee benefit. The report will be made available by LTCFP to selected employee benefit brokers, human resource managers, and heads of business and non-profit organizations. Titled “The LTC Benefit Battle,” the EraNova document is based on interviews with leaders in the insurance, healthcare, and employee benefit fields.

“This report is quite significant,” says Cameron Truesdell, CEO of LTCFP, “because it paints an accurate, bright picture for long-term care protection in American workplaces. And it answers questions about the viability of LTCI as an employee benefit.”

Some carriers have withdrawn from the group LTCI market, fueling fears that the benefit might be losing favor. “But the industry is merely adjusting and regrouping, as the report finds,” Truesdell says. “There’s a struggle going on between two types of the benefit, group LTCI and voluntary multi-life LTCI. Both have a future but multi-life is set to come on strong.”

With multi-life LTC insurance, there is no master policy as with the traditional group benefit. Individual policies are issued to each insured member, and there is usually greater flexibility in policy design. “Multi-life fits today’s dynamic, fast-evolving organizations,” says Truesdell. “It can work with as few as three employees or as many as tens of thousands.”

The 12-page report sees a large market potential for multi-life based on its value to three constituencies. For employees it protects earning capacity as well as retirement assets. For employers it bolsters productivity of an aging workforce and helps retain the best talent. For Uncle Sam and the states it reduces reliance on Medicaid to pay for care.

For $50 per copy, the report is also available from the Long-Term Care Insurance Guild (a service of EraNova), at http://ltcguild.ning.com/page/ltcbb. A shortened version is scheduled to appear this summer in Employee Benefit Adviser, a leading trade journal for human resource and benefits decision makers as well as brokers, advisers and consultants.

LTC Financial Partners LLC – http://www.ltcfp.com – is one of the nation’s largest long-term care insurance agencies, offering LTC education and solutions for worksites as well as individuals. In California the company is known as LTC Partners & Insurance Services. LTCFP’s Worksite Division — http://www.worksiteacademy.com — offers opportunities for employee benefit brokers and LTCI agents wishing to focus on worksite needs. The company is a proud supporter of the 3in4 Need More campaign – http://www.3in4needmore.com.

EraNova Institute – http://www.eranova.com – is a think tank specializing in business research and public relations.

ATLANTA, Ga., April 26, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — OxBlue®, pioneers in the construction camera industry, released today several case studies demonstrating the benefits clients have experienced with the OxBlue construction camera systems. “Construction cameras have supported this industry for some time,” stated Chandler McCormack, President of OxBlue.

“But many in the industry may not be fully aware of all the ways this technology can impact their project on a tangible level. With these case studies, we wanted to show just what can be accomplished through the real-world application of our construction webcams and how the cameras deliver real-world results.”

Some of the highlights of the case studies include:

Emery Sapp & Sons: Emery Sapp & Sons received a $600,000 early completion bonus from the Missouri Department of Transportation. The contractor built a bridge right next to the one it was replacing, and then slid the new structure into place. It was able to accomplish such a feat with the precise project monitoring and coordination made possible by OxBlue construction cameras.

Northern Tool + Equipment: Northern Tool runs on tighter, more accurate schedules through up-to-date jobsite monitoring that provides the current status of every project. After realizing the enhanced command and control made possible by OxBlue camera systems, Northern Tool now uses OxBlue construction webcams on all its new store projects.

Noble Investment Group: Noble connects the firm’s principals to projects without airfare or hotel costs. Decision makers remotely view current and historic site images to resolve conflicts and improve collaboration with team members and contractors.

Massaro Corporation: Massaro used OxBlue construction webcams to document project delays that were far out of the contractor’s control, including an archeological find on the jobsite and a fire right next door. High-resolution, time-lapse video evidence from the construction cameras also supported insurance claims.

“OxBlue time-lapse construction cameras lead the industry in performance and reliability in every unique construction environment,” related McCormack. “We hope these case studies provide insight into some of the many everyday situations where they can help keep a project on track to reach a highly successful conclusion.”

About OxBlue:
OxBlue is a leading construction camera service provider, giving numerous Fortune 500 companies the hardware, connectivity and expertise to enable constant access to jobsites through high-resolution construction webcam images. OxBlue’s construction cameras connect people on and off site, and measure variables such as labor, risk, quality and materials. The cameras provide accountability and increase communications between construction companies and clients. More information: http://oxblue.com .

- PHOTO Caption: Adhering to an aggressive timeline was made easier with an OxBlue construction camera. The supervisor was onsite 24/7 and could more effectively plan next steps.

MOUNTAIN LAKES, N.J., March 30, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Over the next five years, all of the major U.S. telcos and cable TV MSOs are expected to lose small business customers to a new crop of hosted service providers that will offer PBX-like voice services at lower reoccurring costs and with minimal site equipment expense, according to a new market research study from The Insight Research Corporation.

Insight Research’s market analysis study, “VoIP and the SME: CableCos, Telcos, and the Rise of Hosted Service Models, 2011-2016″ points out that the advent of VoIP PBX business telephone technology and the nearly universal availability of broadband services has enabled a variety of upstart hosted service providers such as 8×8, Aptela, Fonality, and Nextiva to target the small business market.

These emerging companies are providing virtual PBX/VoIP services with enhanced features into the hotly contested lower end of the business segment-and they are doing it in ways that more competitive in terms of functionality, productivity, and pricing than the service bundles being provided by either the telcos or the MSOs.

“There are more than forty million lines in the small business segment of the market now up for grabs, so we are not talking about chump change,” says Robert Rosenberg, Insight Research president. “Our study suggests that thus far, small businesses haven’t quite latched on to this new technology so the revenue today is only in the range of one-half billion dollars, but by 2015 hosted services will be nearly a $1.2 billion market and the adoption rate of the hosted services by small businesses will continue increasing at a faster rate,” Rosenberg concluded.

“VoIP and the SME: CableCos, Telcos, and the Rise of Hosted Service Models, 2011-2016″ segments adoption by 20 vertical industries and provides revenue estimates for each. Potential small business line losses are estimated for telcos AT&T, CenturyLink, Cincinnati Bell, Fairpoint, Frontier, TDS, Verizon, and Windstream as well as for MSOs Bright House, CableOne, Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Cox, Mediacom, SuddenLink, Time Warner, and WOW Telecom.

NEW YORK, N.Y., March 19, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Platinum group metals (PGMs), namely, platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and osmium, are heading toward a period of exceptional volatility with supply constraints and dramatic fluctuations in price, according to a new report published by Thintri, Inc. (www.thintri.com). The same materials are threatened in the longer term by competing materials in some of their largest markets.

PGMs are universally present in the catalytic converters in motor vehicles, in disc drives, oil refineries, glass manufacturing, medical devices and implants such as pacemakers and dental crowns, and a host of other applications. Some are also highly valued in jewelry and investment. PGMs are also rare, and quite costly.

Like most natural resources, PGM supplies are inherently limited, but to a greater degree than other important minerals. PGMs are produced in just a few countries; the U.S. imports 95 percent of the PGMs it consumes.

The limits of those supplies are now becoming clear. Already, Russia, the largest palladium producer, has announced that its palladium supplies are dwindling.

Industry analyses indicate that known PGM reserves are sufficient for another 360 years at present rates of production and consumption. However, that figure drops to 15 years if rising demand, particularly from growing industrialization and automobile sales in emerging economies, is taken into account.

Growing demand is fueled by a range of factors including accelerating motor vehicle sales around the world, a rising industrial sector in many regions and a growing consumer preference for white metals in jewelry. As demand exceeds available supplies, prices will rise significantly.

In the recent past, limited supply in the face of changing demand has produced extreme volatility. Rhodium, for example, went from over $6,000 per ounce in mid-2007 to $10,000 per ounce in mid-2008 and dropped to a little above $1,000 before the end of that year.

On the other hand there are technologies already on the market, and some near commercialization, that will alter the picture just as dramatically in the other direction, by replacing PGMs at much lower cost, and by relieving supply and price pressure through improved recovery.

While some PGM applications, such as jewelry, investment and electronics, are relatively immune from substitution at this time, most PGM applications are vulnerable to replacement by nanotechnology-based solutions available at a fraction of the cost. Such alternatives can partly or completely replace the PGM content in critical applications like catalysts in the automotive, energy and industrial markets.

Other new methods will eventually, in effect, bring new supplies to market through improved recovery. New techniques for recycling catalytic converters and similar products are able to recover far more PGM content than was possible earlier. In addition, once-inaccessible PGM content in copper and nickel mine waste and slag can now be exploited. The availability of literally mountains of mine waste and slag throughout western North America and other parts of the world, will soon set off a “gold rush” to exploit those resources.

Today, platinum group metals are at an extraordinary intersection of market forces. The confluence of growing demand, limited and/or dwindling supplies, and growing availability of alternatives and new supplies, will likely create a period of extraordinary volatility before things stabilize.

Much of this decade will witness a transition of PGM markets to adjust to a new reality of price volatility and tightened supplies, while others move to take advantage of the new opportunities presented in PGM recovery and replacement.

About Thintri, Inc.:
Founded in 1996, Thintri, Inc. (www.thintri.com), is a full-service consulting firm, based in New York and directed by J. Scott Moore, Ph.D.

MOUNTAIN LAKES, N.J., March 12, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The global market for operations support systems (OSS) – the computing and software IT infrastructure that performs engineering, provisioning, and management functions in telecommunications networks – will exceed $67 billion in 2016, according to a new report by Insight Research.

Telecommunications industry spending for OSS is expected to mirror the forecasted growth in service revenue over the next five years, indicating that the industry is expecting sustainable growth in the years ahead.

According to “Operations Support Systems, 2011-2016,” telecommunications network operators worldwide are forecasted to increase their investment in OSS at a compounded rate of 5.9 over the next five years.

North American investment in the computing and software systems used to acquire, serve, and bill customers will lag worldwide investment, growing at a compounded rate of 4.6 percent over the same period, while OSS expenditures made by carriers in the Asia, Europe, and Latin America regions will grow at 6.3 percent.

The report found that telecommunications service providers are investing most heavily in those OSS needed to support wireless 3G and 4G services. Over the forecast period, annual OSS spending to support broadband wireless will increase from $3 billion today to $22 billion in 2016.

“Telecommunications providers will continue to invest in systems that streamline their operations – particularly in growth areas such as customer care and network engineering for wireless services,” says Insight director Fran Caulfield. “Our research confirms continued strong growth for both wireless services and the operations systems that support the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, and mobility applications,” concluded Caulfield.

“Operations Support Systems, 2011-2016″ forecasts global IT infrastructure spending for billing, customer care, planning/engineering, provisioning/inventory, trouble repair, network management, business management, and workforce management systems. It also projects the professional services expenditures required to implement those systems by type of carrier in four regions: North America; Europe, the Middle East, and Africa; Asia/Pacific; and Latin America/Caribbean.